DeepSummary
The podcast episode explores the issues surrounding carbon offsets, with the hosts expressing skepticism about their effectiveness in addressing climate change. They discuss a ProPublica investigation which found that some prominent forest preservation projects supported by a UN program were ineffective, with credits being issued despite deforestation occurring. The limitations of carbon offsets are highlighted, including challenges with permanence, additionality, and verification.
The hosts also analyze the newly released climate plans of presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Andrew Yang. Sanders' plan is critiqued as being overly aspirational and lacking in specifics, while Yang's plan is seen as disconnected from reality and focused on geoengineering and relocating people from areas threatened by climate change.
Finally, the episode delves into a controversial energy bill (HB6) passed in Ohio, which bails out coal and nuclear plants while gutting renewable energy and efficiency standards. The hosts discuss the role of dark money and utility interests in pushing through the bill, as well as the potential for it to set a dangerous precedent in other states.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Carbon offsets, particularly those related to deforestation prevention, have been criticized for their lack of effectiveness and accountability.
- The UN's REDD program for reducing emissions from deforestation has faced scrutiny, with investigations finding credits being issued despite ongoing deforestation.
- Presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Andrew Yang have released climate plans that have drawn criticism for being overly aspirational or disconnected from reality.
- A controversial energy bill (HB6) in Ohio bails out coal and nuclear plants while gutting renewable energy standards, raising concerns about the influence of utility interests and dark money.
- California is considering joining a tropical forest carbon offset program as part of its cap-and-trade system, but there are questions about the program's ability to address issues of permanence, additionality, and verification.
- The challenges surrounding carbon offsets highlight the need for more direct and effective policies to address climate change.
- The politics surrounding energy and climate policies can be contentious, with various interests influencing legislation and regulations.
- There is ongoing debate about the role of different technologies, such as nuclear energy and geoengineering, in addressing climate change.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I have to say I got distracted because, I mean, of his no nuclear defunding, the IMF divestment. It, like, felt like a way for him to scream about his views than actually trying to bring the full fight to climate change.“ by Jigger Shah
- “Well, it was distasteful. You know, I think what happened in Illinois, though, is very similar to what happened in Ohio. Right? I mean, Illinois had saved the nuclear plants with a clean bill a couple times. And then when they failed to get the vote this last time around, they went looking for votes, and they first actually went to the coal plants down south and said, hey, you know, how about we partner up to get enough votes to get some subsidies for you and some subsidies for us?“ by Jigger Shah
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Episode Information
The Energy Gang
Wood Mackenzie
8/30/19
With flight shame growing in popularity, extreme weather intensifying, and the Amazon burning, there’s more demand than ever for carbon offsets to assuage our guilt and make us feel like we’re doing something.
But those credits many not be doing what you think they are — or anything at all.
This week, we’re discussing the complicated and frustrating world of carbon offsets. There’s a reason why even the United Nations is now calling out their limitations.
This conversation is particularly important as California considers joining the Tropical Forest Standard as part of its cap-and-trade program.
Then, we’ll talk about new climate plans from Bernie Sanders and Andrew Yang. What’s in them? And who will become the climate candidate?
Finally, we dig into a bill from Ohio that bails out big utilities and guts clean energy. The politics of this thing are ugly — and they are only getting uglier.
Read along with us:
- ProPublica: An Even More Inconvenient Truth
- Bloomberg: Greta Thunberg and ‘Flight Shame’ Are Fueling a Carbon Offset Boom
- New York Times: Bernie Sanders' Green New Deal
- Vox: Ohio Just Passed the Worst Energy Bill of the 21st Century
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